Vaporizer



Oct. /9, 1928.

, 1,686,609 E. R. GODWARI'."-

VAPORIZER i' 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed o ct. 22, 1926 I N VEN TOR.

E. R. GODWARD Filed Oct. 22, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet` IN VEN TOR.

TORNEYS.

Oct. 9, 1928.

E. R. GODWARD VAPORIZER 3 Sheets-Sheet v3 Filed 001'. 22, 1926 www@ ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 9, v1928.v

` AUNITI-:D STATES ERNEST ROBERT GODWA'BD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNOR TO THE ECLIPSE PETROL ECONOMISER SYSTEM COMPANY, LIMITED, F CHEISTCIIUBCHY, NEWZEALAKND, A

CORPORATION OF NEW varomzim i applieaaon'alea october sa; 192e. serial no. 143,332.

This invention relates to `vaporizers, for treating 'mechanical mixtures of liquid fuels (such as hydrocarbons or other volatile combustible liquids) and air, of the general type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent #1,490,919, dated April 22nd, 1924, and in my co-pen'ding application for method patent Serial No. 64,476/ filed October 23rd, 1925.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide an improved construction of vaporizer adapted to, first, increase the general eiiiciency thereof in operation, and, second, to provide a construction which readl5 ily lends itself to economical production.

W'ith these objects in view, the present invention provides a novel construction of vaporizer adapted to furnish an increased contact surface area in the form of relative short plates either straight, arcuate or of corrugated or reverse curve formation; to furnish a conical or downwardly and inwardly sloping heated bottom plate, to both increase the e ciency thereof in transmitting heat to contact surface area, as well as to back drain unvaporized liquid fuel to the incoming stream of fuel mixture for redistribution to said contact surface area; to furnish a center core structure adapted to facilitate the assembling and positioning of the radial surface providing plates, said center core also including, at its lower end in alignment with the fuel mixture intake, a depending inverted cone adapted to accentuate the centrifugal movement of the ingoing fuel mixture, .as well as to direct or deiect the same to the contact surface area and to furnish other detail improvements, notat this plate more particularly enumerated, but which will be readily understood from the following detailed description ofthe same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings.` in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing one form of vaporizer4 embodying the improvements made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the same, taken on line 2 2 in Figure 1 Figure 3 is another horizontal section through the same, taken on line gr-Sin Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of one form of radial plate used to produce the contact surface area of the device. y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation and part vertical section of the improved vaporizer, showing another form of radial plate structure adapted to provide the contact surface area of the device; Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the same, taken on line 6 6 in said Figure 5; and Figure 7 is aperspective view of one of the radial `plates thereof.

Figure,8 is a fragmentary horizontal section, showing another modified form of radial plate structure; and Figure 9 is a similar view, showing still another modified form of said radial plate structure.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the refer'- ence character 1 indicates a casing or pot having an open upper end normally closed by a cover member 2, which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, as e. g. by bolts or screws 3 serving to join peripheral flanges 4 and 5 with which the casing or pot and said cover member are respectively provided. Said cover member 2is provided with one or more outlet members 6, as shown iii-Figure 1.

The interior 0f the casing or pot 1 is subdivided by an inverted conical bottom plate or partition 7, to provide above the same an upper'vaporizing chamber 8 and a lower heater chamber 9. The fuel mixture intake 10, which leads centrally into the lower end of the vaporizing chamber 8, is formed by a centrallyy located throat member 11 which rises through the interior of the heater chamber 9 to extend intermediate the outer bottom wall er chamber 9. so as' tol transfer heat tothe bottom wall of said vaporizing chamber 8. which is provided b v the conical bottom plate or partition 7. To increase the amount 'of surface in contact with the heating medium, and consequently the heatabsorption" capacity and conduction eliiciency of .said conical bottom plate or partition 7, the latter is provided with curved' fins 15 depending therefrom into the interior of said heater chamber between the inlet and outlet ofthe latter, and intermediate opposite sides of the throat. member 11 'and the outer walls of the casing or pot 1. The .heating medium introduced into and through said heater cham- L quently a freer andquicker movement thereof with less tendency to the creation of backpressure.

The inverted conical bottom plate or partition 7 slopes downwardly and inwardly toward the fuel mixture intake 10, preferably at an angle of to 45 degrees. Arranged within the vaporizing chamber 8 so as to .be fitted to and so as to rest in engagement with said inwardly sloping bottom plate or partition 7 is a nest of radially disposed plates, so spaced apart as to provi e a multiplicity of radial and laterally extending passages 16 extending laterally and upwardly from the fuel mixture intake 10. As shown in' Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the nest of plates may comprise a plurality of straight radial plates 17, the upper inner marginal portions of which are dove-tailed into corresponding radial slits or grooves with' which a central supporting core 18 is provided; such arrangement not only securing the inner ends of said plates in supported relation to saidcore 18,

ut also serving to space such inner ends apart one from another. The lower margins 17 of said plates 17 are inclined at an angle corresponding to the angle of slope of said bottom plate orpartition 7 so as to properly con tact with the latter. Said center core 18 is engaged only with the upper ortions of the plates` and is of a length su stantially less than the total height of said plates at their inner ends, thus providing, at the lower inner end portions of the spaced plates, entrances to the intermediate passages 16 with which the fuel mixture intake `10 communicates. The lower end of the core 18, which is in align- .ment with the fuel mixture intakelO, is provided with an inverted conical portion 19, which acts as a deflector to the incoming charges of`fuel mixture, not only serving to direct and distribute the latter into the passages 16 intermediate the plates 17, but also acceiituating centrifugal action of the fuel mixture in contact with the plate walls which bound said passages. Forms of delector other thana cone may be used if desired. i

The outer marginal portions of the plates are provided with laterally bent portions 17",

plates, so as to close the major portion of the upper ends of the. passages 16 therebetween, is a top-plate 20, preferably secured to the -upper end of the center'core 18 by a Suitable fastening means, such, for example, as the screw 21. Said top-plate is of less diameter than the inside diameter of the vaporizing chamber 8, thus leaving the outer portions of the uppergendsof the passages 16 open, and thereby providing discharge mouths or exits 22, which communicate: through the interior of the cover-member with the outlet 'members 6.

Referrin now to Figures 5, 6 and 7y of the drawings have illustrated therein a somewhat modiied form of radial plate structure, as well as a modijed construction of center supportin ing what I and arran lement of these features.'- In this modified 4 orm the radial passages 16 are bounded by radial plates 23 of laterally arcuate shape, thus also producing a lateralcurvature of the passages 16 from their inner toward `their outer ends.. The center core core; these modifications embodybelieve to be the preferred formv lml structure com rises a' lower'inverted conical deflector mem er 24 having an upward exer periphery of said conical deflector niemer 24 is lprovided with an annular upstanding shou der 26, the rear side of which is preferably downwardly and inwardl I intending axially disposed shank 25` The npl .clined, as shown in Figure 5. Telescopically v fitted over the shank 25 is a hub-sleeve 27,`

teriorsurface of said ub-sleeve. Said plates 23 are.' provided with notches 23 (see Figure 7) 'shaped to engage over the shoulder 26 of the conical deiector member 24' thus locking saidi plates in assembled relation to'the hub-sleeve 27. As

properly disposed a further aid in retaining the plates in posit tion, the upper ends of the same ma be provided with notchesx23 (also see igure 7) 130' which, when the plates are operatively assembled, will be annularly aligned so as to receive a lock-ring 28. After the plates are thus assembled with the centercore structure, the top-plate 2O is en aged over the same, with the upper end oft e shank (which is screw threaded) extending upwardly therethrough to receive a fastening nut 29. The outer ends of the plates 23 are provided with laterally bent portions 23', which serve as spacing vmeans for disposing the outer ends of said plates in 'mutually spacedeapart relations. The lower margins of the plates 28 are inclined at an angle corresponding to the angle of slope of said bottom plate or partition 7, so as to rest upon and in contact therewith. The above described structure is very easily assembled, and' provides a structure which may be rapidly and economically produced with a minimum of labor, and so-that, when completed, itis merely required to drop the same into position within the vaporizing chamber, whereupon the cover-member 2 is secured in place in connection with the pot or casing 1 so that the -vaporizer is com-- 4plete and ready for use. While as above intimated the plates may be made straight, as

the plates 17, or arcuate, as the plates 23, it

, may be here pointed out that other formacontact surface. `As shown in the drawingsv tions of said plates may be employed, as, for example, the reverse curve lates 30 shown in Figure 8, or the corrugatedp plates 31 shown in Fi re 9. A

The novel construction and arrangement comprising the-nest of plates is such, that I am enabled to utilize a very large number of plates to thereby obtain a maximum area of in the instant case I provide eighty plates, which by reason of their comparatively short length, provide an equally large number of intermediate passages 16, which may be narrower. near the center and may gradually 1ncrea'se in ywidth toward their outer ends, thereby providing room for e. ansion of each individual stream of fuel mlxture as it progresses through the vaporizer. The relatively short radial lplates and corresponding paages, the lengt of which approximates about Aone-fifth the circumference .of the va- .porizing chamber, provides a distinct advantage over comparatively longplates and pasv which form one or more complete con.

vo utions, for thel reason that the long curved passages of -the latter form produce too great restriction of the moving -fuel -mixture streams,vespecially at high speeds, to assure v production of 'adequate power. In my stant form the comparatively' short radial plates, employed in relatively arge numbers, provides a maximum of contact surface area, while the comparatively shortfradial passages reduce restriction to a minimum.

In operation, the vaporizeryconstructed in aceordancewith invention, functions according to the method of procedure fully set forth in my co-pending or even more; and the total cubic content of the passages 16 between the plates should bear a ratio to the cubic'content of the fuel intake passa e in excess of four to one, and in fact shoul preferably possess a ratio of eight to ten to one, or even more. For example, assuming the internal diameter of the vaporizing chamber to be 5 and 5/8 inches, with afuel intake passage of approximately 2 square inches crosssectional area, the nest of eighty plates may be lmade to provide, with thesides and bottom of the vaporizing chamber, a total contact surface area of from 800 to 1400 square inches.

A very considerable improvement in the functioning of the instant apparatus is due to the provision of the conical downwardly sloping hot bottom plate 7 of the vaporizing chamber. 'Ihis form of bottom `plate affords the following advantages: First, it enables the unvaporized heavy ends of the fuel mixture to drain back into the throat or fuel intake passage 10, to be thus returned to the incoming stream of fuel mixture, reatomized and then redistributed through the passages 16 and in contact with the plate contact surface bounding the latter; second, the angular v disposition of the bottom plate 7 increases theA area of. such bottom plate in contact with the heating medium, and in fact provides approximately about forty percent more very hot bottom plate heating surface, than does 'the flat bottom plate of my earlier structures;

and, third, the angular arran ment of the bottom plate permits the heating medium circulated through the underlying heating chamber to be carried up about half the height of` the outer wall of the vaporizer pot, thereby a better heating to such outer wall and eliminating relatively cold surfaces adjacent to the path of flow of the produced gas. With the lflat bottom plate of my earlier structures, it has been foundt-hat when employed for automotive pur vas e. on stee hills, all the gasoline orvolatile hquid fue failed tocompletely vaporize, and a loading up of the engine. resulted.

I With the angular or sloping bottom plate 'of ses, .the engine ranunder` j i full load and wi e open throttle at low speeds,

the instant invention, with its increased heat-v Y ing surface, the gasoline fuel constituent the teaching of the charged to the engineis all vaporized, and no 13 claim 1. In a vaporizing device a vaporizing chamber having a central carburetted fuel mixture inlet extending upwardly thereinto-l and a vaporized fuel mixture outlet at its upper end, and a centrally sloping bottom heating-plate heated by the exhaust gases of the engine, said bottom plate converging upon said fuel mixture inlet to drain unvaporized fuel back to the latter, a member comprising a multiplicity of spaced radially disposed vertical plates the lower edges of which are fitted to contact with said centrally sloping bottom heating-plate to receive heat by conduction from thelatter, and means engaging the inner ends of said plates and means intermediate the outer ends of said plates to retain the same in spaced apart passage forming relation. y

2. A vaporizing device, comprising a casing providing a vaporizing chamber having a central carburetted fuel mixture intake leading into the bottom and a vaporized fuel mixture outlet leading from the upper portion thereof; a multiplicity of radial vertically disposed plates engaged with the bottom of -"said chamber to provide a multiplicity of radial passages having their inner ends com. municating with said intake and their outer ends in communication with said outlet; means engaged with portions of the converging inner ends of said plates to support the same in fixed spaced apart assembled relation; spacing means for retaining the outer ends of said plates in passages formi-ng relation; a top-plate of less diameter than the internal diameter of said vaporiz'ing chamber engaging the upper ends of said plates; and means for supplying heat to the bottom of said chamber for conduction to the lower ends of and upwardly through said plates.`

3. A vapo-rizing device, comprising a cas'- ing providing a vaporizing chamber having y a central carburetted fuel mixture intake said intake and the outer ends of which communicate with said outlet, said passages being bounded by metallic plates the aggregate surface area of which is in excess of two hundred times the cross-sectional area of said central intake; means at both the inner and outer ends of said plates to hold the same in passage forming relation; and means for supplying heat to the bottom of said chamber for conduction to the lower ends of and upwardly through said plates.

4. A vaporizing device, comprising a casing providing a vaporizing chamber having a central carburetted fuel mixture intake leading into the bottom and a vaporized fuel mixture outlet leading from the upper portion thereof; the bottom of said chamber comprising an inverted conical bottom plate .converging on said central intake; avaporplates.

5. Avaporizing device, comprising a casing providing'a vaporizing chamber having a central carburetted fuel mixture intake leading into the bottomy and a vaporized fuel mixture outlet leading from the upper portion thereof; the bottom of said chamber comprising an inverted conical bottom plate converging on said central intake; a Vaporizing member supported on said bottom plate within said chamber, said member having a multiplicity of relatively narrow radiating substantially vertical passages, the inner ends of which communicate with said intake, said passages being bounded bv radially disposed metallic plates, the lower ends of which are engaged on said bottom plate; means engaged with portions of the converging inner ends of said plates to support the same in spaced apart assembled relation, means intermediate the outer ends of said plates to retain the same in spaced apart relation; a. top-plate of less diameter than the internal diameter of said vaporizing chamber engaging the upper ends of said plates; and means for supplying heat to said bottom plate for conduction to the lower ends of and upwardly through said radial plates.

6. A vaporizing device, comprising a casing providing a vaporizing chamber having a central carburetted fuel `mixture intake leading. into Athe bottom and a vaporized fuel mixture outlet leading from the upper'portion thereof; the .bottom of chamber metallic -comprising an inverted conical bottom plate in contact with the bottom of said vaporizing l iector member opposed to said intake of the inner ends of said within said chamber, said member having a multiplicity of relatively narrow radiating of said plates converge, said center core defthe inner vice having an enlarged lower end portion said intake, provided at its peripherywith an upstandsubstantially vertical passages, ends of which communicate vn'th means for spacing apart the outer a center core device upon which the'- upper portions of the inner ends said passages being bounded by radially `ing annular shoulder, each plate having a posed metallic platesrthe lower ends of which notched portion engageable' over said shoulare engaged on said bottom plate; a center der whereby said plates are retained against core element axially aligned withand spaced `,displacement from aembled relation; a

above said intake, said center -oore lelement having means to enga e portions of the convergingI inner ends o to plate of less diametery than the internaliE- ameter of saidvaporizing :chamber engagsaid plates to retain ing the upper ends of said plates; the! lower the Same in assembled relation, the lOWeI end ofsaid center core device having a deengl of lsaid center core element having a ldethe` entering carburetted fuel.

member; a top-plate of less internal diameter of said vaporizing chamand means for supplying heat to said bottom nding conical detlector member opposed to t9 turn said intake to turn the entering carburetted mixture fuel mixture charges linto the passages of said charges into the passages of said vaporizing 'vaporizing member; and means for supplydiameter than the ing heat to Said bottom plate for conduction plates, the lower ends of which are to the lower ends of and upwardly through ber engaging the upper ends of said plates; said radial plates.

9. A vaporizing device, comprising a Acasplate for conduction to the lower ends of ing providing a vaponzmg chamber having and upwardly through saidradial plates.

7. A vaporizing device, comprising a casleading, into a VePOI'lZlDg Chamber havmg mixture outlet leading from theupper porchamber ing providing a central leading into the bottom and a vaporized fuel Comprising an Calblllel'ited mixture tion thereof; the bottom of sald a` central carburetted fuel mixture intake the bottom'and a vaporized fuel invertedv conical' bottom plate mixture Outlet leading from the uPPel P01" .converging on said central intake; a vaporiztion thereof; a vaporizing member supporte ing member within said chamber having a 0n the bottom f Said chamber Said member mutiplicity of relatively narrow radiating having a multiplicity 0f reletively narrow substantially vertical passages, said assages radiatingy substantially vertical passages, being bounded said passages being bounded by radiall posed metallic plates, the lower end's vaporizing chamber, apart the outer ends of said dis metallic plates, )f engaged on which are in contact with the bottom of said spacing apart means for SPecmg ,means engaged Pla-tes: a' center converging innerends of said plates to reby radially dispose curved the lowereends of which are said Abottom plate, means forA the outer ends of said platos, by the upper portions o`f vthe Core device uP011 which the PPel Portions tain the samein assembled relation, the lower lates converge, said center core device having an lenlarge lower end portion provided at its u peripher with an up-standing annular sho der, eac

plate having a notched portion-engageable 'plate engaged portions of said4 converging 'inner en said plates being spaced apart to bound the .intake end of said passages whereby the latter communicate with said central intake; a topover the upper ends of said v over said shoulder whereby said plates are plates, Said top ph being of less dialnet retalned gunst dlsllament from* assem' than the internal diameter of the vaporizing bled relation; a top-plate bf less diameter` chamber whereby npwnrdly directed dis .n l

than the internal diameter of said vaporizing charge mouths ,are provided in connectionchamber engaging the up r ends of said plates; and means for supp ying heat to said bottom plates for conduction to 'the lower outlet leading from the upper tion thereof; a vaporizing member mixture intake a vaporized fuel e supported 011 the bottom ofsaid chamber, said membe having va multiplicit of relatively radiating substanti y vertical bounded by mdiiuy Ies ` a central r prising an narrow verging 011 Said assages, said member within with said passages to communicate with saidv outlet; and means for supplying heat to said i bottom plate for conduction to the lower ends f 'of and upwardly through said radialplates.

dsof` 1'2o` 10. A vaporizmg device, comprising a casY v ing providing a vaporizing chamber having' v carburetfedf leading into the bottom'ad a vaporized fuel mixture outlet leading from the upper portion thereof; the bottom of said chamber come', inverted' conical bottoni plate conicentral a vaporizing said chamber having amultifi; sed plicity of relatively' narrow su stantially vertical passages, said passages being bounded by radially disposed curved metallic plates, the lower ends of which are engaged on said bottom plate, means for spacj ing apart the outer ends of said plates, means engaged by the upper portions of the converging inner ends of said plates to retain the same in assembled relation, the lower portions .of said" converging inner ends lof said plates being spaced apart to bound the in-j take of said passages whereby the latter communicate with said central intake; a top-plate engaged over the upper ends of said plates,g said top-plate being of less diameter than the internal diameter of the vaporizing chamber whereby upwardly directed discharve mouths are provided `in connection with said passages to communicate with said outlet; a depending conical deflector member opposed to said central intake to turn the entering-carburetted 20 fuel mixture charges into the passages ofrsaid vaporizing member; and means VJfor supplying heat to said bottom plate for conduction to the lower ends of and upwardly through said radial plates.

v In testimony, Athat I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of October, 1926-.

-vERNEST ROBERT GODWARD. 

